How do I get Developer mode on my retail Xbox One console?

I'm part of the Xbox One Preview programme. Can I download the Developer Mode Activation App?

If you’re part of the Xbox One Preview programme, you’ll need to leave that programme before you can join this one. If you decide that you don't want to get Preview updates anymore, you can opt out from the Xbox Preview Dashboard app.

Here's how to remove your console from the Xbox Preview programme:

Open the Xbox Preview Dashboard app.

Select Registration.

Under Manage flights, select Change.

Note If you have more than one console in the programme, you can change their statuses by using Manage other consoles.

Under Manage programmes, select Remove, and then select Submit. You'll be prompted to select a reason for leaving.

Note It will take one working day after requesting to be removed from the Preview Programme for your request to process. Until then, you will not be able to download the app, and your console's status will show as Pending.

What if I don't have a Developer Centre account?

You must have a Developer Centre account before you can activate the Developer Mode Activation App on your console. There is a fee to create your Developer Centre account. For more information, go to dev.windows.com/en-us/registration/AccountInfo to create your Developer Centre account.

I've completed the activation process. How long before I'm able to use the Developer Mode Activation App?

You should have full access to the Developer Mode Activation App within minutes after activation. However, there might be times when the process might take a little longer to complete.

Why can't I connect to my Xbox One using Visual Studio?

If you’re having trouble connecting to your Xbox One with Visual Studio, you might be running your console in Retail mode, not Developer mode. When your console is in Retail mode, you can't connect to your Xbox One using Visual Studio.

To check what mode your console is in, press the Xbox button on your controller, and then scroll right to Dev Home. If you see Gold/Live content instead of Dev Home on your screen, you’re in Retail mode. To switch to Developer mode, run the Developer Mode Activation App.

How do I switch between Retail mode and Developer mode?

Will my games and apps still work if I activate Developer mode?

No, while in Developer mode your games and apps will not work. You can switch from Developer mode to Retail mode to play your games and apps. For more information, see the Xbox One Developer Mode Activation page.

Caution The Xbox Developer Preview System Update includes experimental and early pre-release software. This means that some popular games and apps will not work as expected, and you may experience occasional crashes and data loss.

Why aren't my games and apps working?

If your games and apps aren't working or if you don't have access to the Store, Community, OneGuide or Xbox Live services, you're probably running in Developer mode. To check which mode you’re running, press the Xbox button on your controller, and then scroll right on the Home screen to Dev Home. If you see Gold/Live content instead of Dev Home on your screen, you're in Retail mode.

Will I lose my games/apps or saved changes if I disable/remove the Developer mode from my console?

If you decide to leave the Developer Preview Programme, you’ll have to do a factory reset on your Xbox One console. When you do a factory reset, all the content on your console is erased. If that happens, you’ll have to reinstall all your games and apps. As long as you were online when you played your games, your Xbox profile, games achievements, gamerscore and avatar are saved, and you won't lose them.

Will I be able to publish my app?

With this release, you can't publish your apps. You’ll be able to publish your apps in a subsequent release. This release is intended to give developers early access to developer tools so they have time to code their apps before the final product/release.

How do I leave the Developer Preview Programme?

I sold my Xbox One and left it in Developer mode. How do I deactivate Developer mode?

If you no longer have access to your Xbox One, you can deactivate it from Windows Developer Centre. For more information, see "Deactivating your console through Windows Development Centre" at Xbox One Developer Mode Deactivation.

If I am still in Developer mode after I leave the Developer Preview Programme, what do I do?

If you're still in Developer mode after you leave the Developer Preview Programme, start Dev Home, and press the Leave developer mode button. This will reboot your console in Retail mode.For more information, go to the Xbox One Developer Mode Activation page.

Can I publish my app?

Publishing for apps will be available through Development Centre later in the year. The Universal Windows (UWP) apps that are created and tested on a retail Xbox One will go through the same review and publication process that Windows conducts today, with additional reviews to meet Xbox One standards.

Can I publish my game?

You can use UWP and your Xbox One in Developer mode to build and test your games on your Xbox One. To publish UWP games, you must register at ID@Xbox.

ID@Xbox provides developers full access to Xbox Live APIs for their games, including gamerscore and achievements, as well as the ability to take advantage of multiplayer gaming between devices, cloud saves and all the features of the Xbox Live service on Xbox One. ID@Xbox can also provide access to Xbox One development kits for games that require access to the maximum potential of the Xbox One hardware.

Will the entire UWP API surface be available on the Xbox?

For information about the availability of the UWP API surface for Xbox One, see the Known issues page for this preview release.

Will the standard game engines work?

For more information about how the standard game engines will work, see the Known issues page for this preview release.

What capabilities and system resources are available to UWP games on Xbox One?